2-12-2010 -Photo by John Suchocki /The Republican | The Movie Gallery in the Depot Plaza in Palmer is one of several area stories that is closing.
PALMER – The signs outside Movie Gallery at Depot Plaza on North Main Street say the store is closing, a result of the video store chain’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization earlier this month.
Blame it on the popularity of Netflix, with its DVDs by mail and online, or the Redbox self-serve DVD kiosks at stores and supermarkets, or simply the slumping economy, but the restructuring means approximately 760 Movie Gallery, Hollywood Video and Game Crazy stores will close across the country.
“We are closing these because they are not profitable and because funds from liquidating them can help us moving forward,” reads a statement on Oregon-based Movie Gallery’s Web site. {Read a customer fact sheet about the closings.}
Besides the Palmer store, a Hollywood Video store on Boston Road in Springfield, Movie Gallery in Easthampton, and Movie Gallery on the Mohawk Trail in Greenfield will shutter.
Staying open are a Hollywood Video on Springfield’s Liberty Street and Movie Gallery on Greenfield’s Federal Street.
The company operates 2,090 Movie Gallery, Hollywood Video and Game Crazy stores in the United States and Canada.
Palmer’s Movie Gallery was hopping on Friday night with many customers in search of discounted DVDs. A sign in the store said there is no definite closing date yet.
Store manager-in-training Tody Rudner said employees were told about the closing nearly two weeks ago. Rudner blamed the economy, and said the store was doing well until two years ago.
“We’re really sad. The people here are like family. The people coming in are rather upset,” Rudner said.
One of those customers is Cheryl Fenner, of Palmer, who said she’s been going to the store for years to rent video games and movies for her children. Fenner said she doesn’t use Netflix and will miss the store.
Jeffrey A. Ploof, of Palmer, described himself as a longtime Netflix user who prefers it for its convenience. He was at the store in search of Blu-ray bargains.
The impending departure of Palmer’s Movie Gallery leaves no video stores in town. There is a Redbox kiosk outside the Cumberland Farms, also on North Main Street, which had a steady stream of customers on Friday night.
Cynthia R. Heffernan was waiting in line at the kiosk to take out “Couple’s Retreat.” She said Redbox is easy to use, and cheaper than a regular video store with its $1 DVDs and $1 late fees.
“I would have liked to have a store stay open that could be more competitive,” Heffernan said about Movie Gallery’s closing.
In Northampton, Pleasant Street Video is still holding its own despite the pressures that are befalling the larger chains, according to employee William H. Dwight.
Dwight said the store specializes in arthouse, classic, and hard-to-find films, not just new, mainstream releases, and runs specials so its prices are on par with its competitors.
He said the employees are all film buffs, and enjoy engaging in conversations about movies, a touch one doesn’t get with Netflix or Redbox. Dwight also said Netflix DVD picks are often done on impulse, so by the time it shows up in the mail, people don’t always feel like seeing it.
“Netflix has more of an effect on chains. As it stands now, we’re doing fine. We’re status quo,” Dwight said.